Got an upcoming trip you need to make? When on a long flight or car journey, many of us struggle with ideas of what to do. Some people also find that they get nauseous or stressed out when travelling by plane or train. For many people, being on the road for a long time isn’t fun when you’re just staring out the window, even if you have the excitement of starting your holiday.
There are ways to make those boring journeys a little more bearable, however. It doesn’t matter whether you’re travelling for business, holidays or meeting up with family, you can follow this guide to help make things more enjoyable. For those that dread long journeys, we hope this guide helps make the journey fly by so you can enjoy your time away.
1. Preparation
Most long journeys aren’t spontaneous, you usually have plenty of time to prepare before catching a long-haul flight or travelling cross country by train. Use that time well to make sure you have everything prepared. Stock up on supplies you’ll need, including snacks, a travel pillow and make sure your tablet, laptop or mobile are fully charged. Being prepared will help you to make the most out of your travelling time and make things a lot more comfortable.
2. Get some sleep
Probably one of the best ways to make long journeys go by quickly is to sleep through it. Plan your sleep schedule around your trip if possible, staying up before you travel will help you fall asleep quickly during the journey. If you’re a light sleeper, make sure you bring some earplugs and an eye cover to help block out lights and sound. A travel pillow can also help to make things more comfortable for you and help you relax and fall asleep more easily. If you’re worried about being disturbed during your sleep, make sure you choose a window seat if possible. This way, other passengers won’t have to wake you to move out of their seat.
3. Chat with your fellow passengers
This is always better if you’re travelling with a friend, but you can also spark up a conversation with a stranger. Who knows, maybe you’ll make a new friend on your journey? You can talk about where you’re going, what’s the reason for your trip and how long you’ll be gone for. While not everyone likes to talk to strangers, it can be a great way to pass the time. Just make sure you’re not bothering them or interrupting their sleep!
4. Plan out your journey
If you’re going on holiday, now might be the perfect time to plan or update your itinerary. Think about all the things you want to see and whether you have enough time to fit them in. Look up tourist attractions and other things you’re interested in seeing, what times do they open and do they charge entry. Ideally, you want to have already prepared your itinerary before your journey but making last-minute additions and alterations is always fun and a good use of your time.
Keeping Yourself Entertained
So far, we’ve listed all the practical ways you can keep yourself occupied on long journeys. Depending on the type of your trip, these may or may not be applicable to you. We know that long flights and train rides can be a drag but luckily having fun is proven to help the time go by faster! The following are all our favourite ways of staying entertained on long journeys:
1. Online Poker
If you love playing Poker and the chance of winning money, you’ll love online Poker. There are loads of great Poker sites out there which offer plenty of different tables and tournaments. These are perfect for playing on long journeys as you can load them up quickly on a mobile or tablet and play instantly. Online Poker South Africa sites let you enjoy Poker wherever you go. There are big bonuses to collect and prizes to be won and the time will fly by.
2. Audiobooks
These are a great option over regular books, mainly because they take up less space in your luggage and can’t get lost. Provided you have a smartphone you can download an audiobook and listen to it as you travel. Just make sure you bring headphones if you’re using public transport! Audiobooks are also an ideal way to pass the time if you’re driving, you can listen to your favourite books and the time will pass by so much quicker.
3. Films and TV
If you’ve brought a tablet or laptop with you, make sure you’ve brought along some downloads of a new film or TV show. You can also use a streaming service provided you’ll have a good internet connection during your trip. If you’re travelling for many hours, now is a great time to catch up on that show that all your friends have been talking about. Alternatively, you can also watch some of your favourite classics. Just be sure to make sure your battery is fully charged before you leave as watching videos can often deplete the battery quickly.
4. Listening to music
Listening to music is always a great way to relax and chill out. We find that music on a long trip always helps to make things more bearable. It’s especially useful if you’re on a train or plane that has lots of noisy passengers. Put your earphones in, turn the volume up and zone out. Make sure you have some new albums or playlists to listen to before you leave, that way you can have plenty of variety and you won’t get bored over a long trip.
5. Puzzle games
Puzzle games may not be for everyone, but if you do enjoy them, they can really make a difference in helping the time to go by. You can find big books full of different puzzles, including games like crosswords and sudoku. Alternatively, if you’re travelling light, you may want to download an app on your phone or tablet where you can access thousands of different puzzles. Check Gamblizard got more information about gaming and apps. Most apps have a good range of difficulty levels, so whether you’re an expert or complete beginner, you can get stuck in and have some fun.
